Starbucks Planner 2008

October is almost up and it simply means that people will go crazy over Starbucks Coffee. According to my friend, Starbucks will release the new planner for 2008 on November 1 and they will start giving out cards and stickers on November 6.

Last year, you need to accomplish 21 stickers before you get the planner. You have to buy 9 Christmas blends and 12 regular coffee to complete the stickers. This year, instead of a pen, the planner will be partnered with a pencil. Hmmm... Well, let's just wait and see.

This time, I'm planning to finish the Christmas stickers first. Coz last year, Toffee Nut Latte/Frappe was already sold-out during the last week of December. I won't be indulging myself with a cup of coffee everyday. Besides, we have an overflowing coffee at work.

Well, then, see you on November 6!

*** Thanks to Jason for the photo.

Intellicare Sucks!

We know for a fact that I am sick for 3 days now. I am on sick leave for two days and that means I have to present a medical certificate, which is fiine. Since I our company provides Intellicare as our HMO, I have decided to inquire if Intellicare has clinic affiliates around Pulilan, Bulacan. Remember, I'm still sick...

I received a text message from their Globe hotline stating the clinics in Balagtas. I replied saying that if I could just go to a nearest clinic and have my expenses reimbursed. After few minutes, I received a call from Gino Escaño, an Intellicare representative. He told me that he will just endorsed me to Dr. Mariel Cunanan-Cortez of Our Lady of Mercy General Hospital here in Pulilan. He told me to look for Arbel Rodriguez at the Billing Section then just proceed to that doctor's office then I'm off. I was informed that the schedule of that doctor is from 1pm to 3pm only. Fine.

Without taking a bath, I walked 300 meters from our house to the jeepney stop, under the heat of the sun. Then I rode a jeep to the hospital. Normally, it would take me two jeepney rides but I found a jeep going to Bocaue so I didn't have to transfer from one jeep to another.

When I reached the hospital, I went to the Billing Section, looked for Arbel, handed my Intellicare card and waited 40 minutes for that Referral Control Sheet for Out-Patient Consultation. What the fuck?!!! 40 minutes for that fucking slip?! Why? Because I thought it was first-come, first-serve basis. But no! She entertained those people with cold cash first before processing me. Ok! Ok! I understand. It's business. I stayed calm.

When I went to Room 406 at the fourth floor, I found this, should I say, shocking sign..
THE AMAZING DOCTOR IS OUT!
Well, I waited, thinking that the doctor just went to the restroom. But 30 minutes had passed so I went down to Arbel and asked if the doctor is around. She asked the information lady and that lady said that the doctor is OFF-DUTY! What the fuck?! I was losing my temper when she told me to come back tomorrow from 8am to 12noon, but I calmly asked her if there are other doctors available who could check me up. She then got the RCS1 form and erased the name of Dr. Cunanan-Cortez and wrote the name Dr. Marci Cruz. Room 408

I went up again at the fourth floor and waited on a long queue. I was very pissed at Intellicare that time so I texted them: Hey! Ur scheduling me on a doctor who's not around! What a service!!!

I've waited for a response but I never received one. I started calling them but they are just canceling it! I heard it rang thrice then beep-beep-beep. I asked my supervisor on how to file an Incident Report against Intellicare. I told her what happened. She told me to email me the complete details so she could inform HR-Ops.

I called Intellicare again, the Gino answered my call, apologizing and blaming Arbel who gave the schedule of the unavailable doctor. He promised me to wait for his call after looking for another doctor who could attend my concern. Ok! But another 30 minutes had passed. I have just decided to go back to Pulilan and just go to our family doctor. I had thought of having my expenses reimbursed but I don't want to deal with Intellicare ever again!

I've been receiving a lot of negative feedbacks about Intellicare but what can I do. It's the only HMO partner or our company. My friend told me during one of our coffee night out, he conducted a signature campaign against Intellicare. And he was successful.

My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?

"Deus meus, Deus meus, utquid dereliquisti me?"
That was the fourth of the Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross.
That was also my words this morning.

Teka, teka, hindi pa ko mamamatay. Matagal pa yun. Kaya lang, late ako kanina sa shift ko ng 20 minutes. As usual, umulan na naman, mahirap sumakay at sobrang traffic. Ang pagkakamali ko, Grace Park na Baliuag Transit ang sinakyan ko, hindi ko na nahintay yung Cubao na dumating kasi nga ang lakas ng ulan sa Bulacan. Naisip ko na okay lang kahit Grace Park na sakyan ko since may LRT naman. Ang problema, wala na nga pala ko LRT Stored Value Card. Kaya pagdating sa LRT 5th Ave Station, pumila pa ko. Kung naabutan ko lang yung isang train eh di sana hindi ako late.

Eto pa, pagbaba ko sa Buendia, hanap agad ako ng taxi para direcho na ko bababa sa harap ng building namin. Ang kaso, wala ako mahagilap na taxi. Lahat puno! Pag minamalas ka nga naman. Nung nakasakay na ko, hindi pala alam ni manong yung pasikot sikot sa Makati. Ok lang kasi kabisado ko naman. Ang problema pa, hindi sya marunong dumiskarte. Lagi kami naaabutan ng red light! Kasi di ba kapag yellow light na, either slow down ka na or bibilisan mo yung takbo. Eh sya laging slow down kasi natatakot na raw sya sa Makati. nahuli na raw kasi sya minsan. Ayun, it tested my patience.

Haaay... Ano pa nga ba eh di Verbal Warning na ko nyan. Peste talaga kanina.

Sa Bulacan pa lang, pagdaan ng jeep sa may simbahan, nagdasal na ko to give me a pleasant surprise today. Meron ngang surprise, hindi naman pleasant. Si Kuya Jess talaga mapagbiro. Nakakainis kasi ang aga aga ko gumising, nakipagbuno ako sa mga tao para lang makasakay sa bus, nabasa ako ng ulan, hindi na ko kumain ng breakfast, mamaya hindi na naman ako makakakain ng lunch sa tamang oras, mag-isa pa ko magpa-process ng napakaraming applicants, tapos male-late lang pala ko. May kasama pang disciplinary action.

My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?